FBI Arrests Illegal Immigrant for Flying Drone Near World Cup Event

The FBI arrested an illegal immigrant with a prior criminal record for flying a drone in restricted airspace near a World Cup festival in Atlanta, according to federal officials.

FBI Director Kash Patel said in a June 17 post on X that the suspect was arrested near a World Cup Fan Fest, adding that FBI teams “continue working 24/7 with interagency partners protecting the games [and] this FBI will pursue and bring to justice ANY criminal actor who targets the events.”

In a June 16 statement, the Department of Justice said that Lorenzo Rojas-Martinez, a Mexican national living illegally in the United States, faces federal charges for flying a drone near Atlanta’s Centennial Olympic Park.

Rojas-Martinez, who has a prior conviction for the distribution of cocaine, also faces charges of illegally reentering the United States after being deported twice, the DOJ said.

He was allegedly seen flying a drone near the park on June 12 as he stood in a parking area while recording video footage of the event, federal prosecutors said.

Agents then discovered he was allegedly illegally living in the United States and found he had a prior drug conviction, among other charges.

“Unauthorized drone operations in restricted airspace present a serious risk to public safety, particularly during major international events such as the FIFA World Cup,” U.S. Attorney Theodore Hertzberg said in a statement. “This enforcement action reflects the coordinated efforts of our federal and local partners to detect, disrupt, and deter unlawful activity that could endanger spectators, athletes, and first responders.”

The FBI office in Atlanta has seized 21 drones so far as part of its effort to block unauthorized drones from being flown near World Cup events, Marlo Graham, special agent in charge of FBI Atlanta, said.

“As these operators are putting the community at risk, our Ground Intercept Teams will continue to locate operators, seize drones, and pursue prosecution of those who violate the restricted airspace in place around FIFA World Cup activities,” Graham added.

Federal officials have repeatedly said that drone flights are prohibited in security zones around World Cup venues and related events.

The World Cup runs from June 11 until July 19, with games played across the United States, Mexico, and Canada.

Over the past weekend, Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin said that with the World Cup games and Freedom 250 events, the terrorism threat level around the United States is “the highest it’s ever been.”

“When I say we arrest terrorists every single week, I’m not exaggerating. Those aren’t the individuals that are coming across our border, those are individuals that are still inside this country,” Mullin said in a Fox News interview on Sunday, citing the events. “We remember just with FIFA … we have 78 games against 11 cities in 38 days, which is essentially 78 Super Bowls. On top of that, you have Freedom 250 with all the activity that’s going on, a tremendous amount of local partnership that has to take place, and not all have the resources.”

In May, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said it would establish “no drone zones” around World Cup games and related events. A prohibited area would be established within a 3-nautical-mile radius around the events, the FAA said. Similar restrictions have been established at other major sporting events, including around Super Bowl games over the past several years.

It’s unclear whether Rojas-Martinez has legal representation.